1. Living and working in Sweden
Ivar Jönsson
EURES Adviser
International Employment Office
Sweden
Senast uppdaterad

2. Kiruna Umeå Stockholm Göteborg Malmö 9.3 million inhabitants
km2
1600 km
20 inhabitants / km2
Stockholm
Göteborg
Malmö
Ystad

3. Some facts about Sweden
Unemployment rate 7,8 % ( Sept 2010)
Good child care facilities make high employment rate possible.
Retirement; 65 year
Currency: Swedish Crown (SEK) 9.25 SEK = 1 € (Oct 2010)

4. Labour market shortages and surpluses
Shortages: Specialists in health care, Pre-school teachers, Teachers in vocational subjects, Engineers Electrical Power, Sheet-metal workers in building and construction. Cooks
Surpluses: Day-care workers, Receptionists, Nursing assistants, Resource persons for students with special needs, Biologists, Janitors, Warehousemen, Shop assistants, Prep cooks and restaurant cashiers

5. Working in Sweden Temporary or Permanent contracts
6 months probationary employment
Full time, 40 hours per week
25 days vacation per year (right to take 4 consecutive weeks holiday in the summer)
No national minimum wage. Collective agreements in most occupations ensure fair wages.

6. Find a job Public Employment Services www.arbetsformedlingen.se
EURES
Swedish newspapers
Adecco Lernia
Manpower Proffice
Open applications

7. Other ways to a job

8. Apply for a job in Sweden
is frequently used and accepted.
Applications should be typewritten in Swedish or English.
Generally you do not enclose a photo.
An application consists of:
- personal letter (no more than 1 page, often less)
- your CV (1-2 pages)
- References (can also be given at the interview)

9. Recognition of foreign diplomas
Regulated professions – NARIC
The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education
Health care professions
NRP (Vocational education and training)

10. Public Employment Services When you are a resident in Sweden
Service through:
Internet (24 hour service)
by telephone via Customer Service Centres (7 day service) +46 (0)
The Public Employment Office – “Arbetsförmedlingen” (over 300 offices)

11. First step: LANGUAGE COURSE ! www.si.se
but…
without speaking Swedish…
…is it very difficult!
First step: LANGUAGE COURSE !
Free courses: Swedish for immigrants

12. Salaries some examples SEK per month (Gross) Average Car mechanics
Salaries some examples SEK per month (Gross) Average Car mechanics Med. Doctor Welder Nurse Construction worker Civ. Engineer Cook Preschool teacher Shop assistant Waiter/waitress

13. Taxes (2010) 1 Euro = 9,25 SKR, 10 000 Skr = 1080 Euro
Gross Netto (SEK / Month) % Tax ,4 ,7
, ,0 ,4 ,0 ,6
Tax deductions includes social insurance and pension fees, but not unemployment benefits.

14. Unemployment benefits
Are not a part of the Social Benefits scheme.
Consist of two parts:
1 Basic insurance (Alfakassan): For all workers after a qualifying period: No membership requirement, max 320 SEK/day
2 Voluntary insurance: For members of an Unemployment Insurance Fund. Cost SEK per month. After the qualification period, 80% of earlier income, max 680 SEK/day
300 days, 5 days per week. Tax will be deducted.

15. Health care and sickness benefits
Patient fee – 300 SEK
Children (< age 12) free
Hospital fee (> age 20) max. 80 SEK/day
Medicine (prescriptions) max SEK/year
Sick pay/sickness benefit 80 % of the income*
First day = no pay

16. Family benefits Parental benefit:
390 days with 80 % of income (max. 910 SEK/day)
+ 90 days with 180 SEK/day to be shared equally between both parents (apart from 60 days)
+ 10 days to the father of new-born baby
Child allowance and child care
1 child; SEK/month - 4 children SEK/month
Municipalities are obliged to provide childcare to children aged years.

17. Accommodation Rent an apartment or house “Buy” an apartment
Buy a house
Accommodation costs vary greatly

18. A typical Swedish work place
”Du” – first name basis – informality!
“Flat” organisations
Team work
You must be able to take initiatives and adapt to new situations.
Gender equality
Strong Trade unions

19. Sweden and Swedes
Fresh air, clean water, untouched wilderness, open space – “Right of Public Access”
Personnummer!
“Fikapaus”
Shoes off indoors
“Systembolaget”

20. Sweden and Swedes Tend to avoid conflicts…
Sweden “closes” for the summer
Internet – VERY important in the Swedish society

21. Thank you for your attention!
Working in Sweden; Useful addresses